CREATING A WORKPLACE WELLNESS PROGRAMME

Programmed was employed to develop a tailored health and well-being programme for a large mobile plant operator workforce in order to decrease absenteeism and improve productivity.

Programmed was responsible for recruiting, training and managing the permanent mobile plant operator workforce on behalf of our customer. Having identified an increase in illness and absenteeism within the workforce, we then analysed the key issues surrounding the increase and addressed them.

After a detailed analysis of the workforce, we found a clear correlation between absenteeism and employee disengagement that was in turn affecting retention, work attitude and work/life culture.

Programmed engaged Working Life to facilitate a health and wellness programme that targeted the lifestyle, nutrition and fitness of the workforce, which aimed to improve their morale, participation and work/life balance.

The programme was fully supported by an exercise physiologist and ongoing medical support was provided by various GPs. The site leadership team supervisors were also given training in behaviour-oriented questioning and managing unplanned absences.

The short-term goal of the project was to decrease illness notifications by 20%, increasing to a stretch target of 30% long-term.

Programmed exceeded the initial target by delivering a 22% reduction in illness notifications in the first month of the programme. The success of the programme continued month by month and at the completion of the project, illness notifications were down 58%.

Our initial targets were achieved and even exceeded, resulting in a positive impact across the site. The customer and their entire workforce benefitted from the reduction in notifications, improved health and well-being as well as increased morale, retention and productivity.